The need for new alternative treatment for trichinosis is being motivated by the growing resistance
and low bioavailability of current therapies. In this study, experimental mice were used
to assess the therapeutic effects of rifampicin alone or in combination with albendazole against
Trichinella spiralis. One hundred male mice were classified into five groups of 20 mice each,
G1: negative or normal control (non-infected untreated), G2: positive control (infected untreated),
G3: drug control (infected and albendazole treated), G4: infected and rifampicin treated, and
G5: infected and treated by albendazole and rifampicin combination. Half of the mice were sacrificed
on the 10th day post infection (dpi) for the intestinal phase and the other half were sacrificed
on the 40th dpi for the muscular phase. The treatment effectiveness was evaluated by parasitological,
histological, and biochemical tests in contrast with positive control. Mice given albendazole
and rifampicin combination gave a highly significant decrease in T. spiralis intestinal
adult count, larval count in muscle and lowered liver activity enzymes. This was documented by
the histopathology of liver, muscles and intestines. |
